Hood and adapter assembly for hair dryers



Jan. 15, 1963 R. B. FAY

HOOD AND ADAPTER ASSEMBLY FOR HAIR DRYERS ATTORNEYS Filed Aug. 20, 1959 Passer B.

United States Patent HOOD AND ADAPTER ASSEMBLY FOR HAIR DRYERS Robert Bernard Fay, Brocktou, Mass, assignor to Handy- Hanuah Products Corporation, Whitman, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Filed Aug. 20, 1959, Ser. No. 835,051 8 Claims. (Cl. 34-99) The present invention relates to hair dryers, and is coneerned more particularly with a hood and adapter assembly for use with hair dryers, particularly hair dryers of the portable type intended for home use.

The hood and adapter assembly of the present invention is intended for use with hair dryers when it is desired to conduct the heated air from the dryer in a confined path to a hood or bonnet disposed on the head of the user to disperse the air in intimate contact with the hair and scalp. An aim of the invention is to provide such a hood and adapter assembly which is convenient to use and simple and easy to attach and detach from the dryer. Included in this aim isthe provision of such an assembly which is safe and foolproof in operation and which will not deteriorate or require repair or replacement over long periods .of normal usage. 7 ,.An important aim of the invention is to provide such an assembly-which provides maximum comfort for the user both from thestandpoint of freedom of movement and lightweight and also from the standpoint of temperature control and the-avoidance of hot spots. Also in accordance with this aim is the provision of an assembly which provides uniform and efficient air distribution for maximum drying effect while avoiding discomfort to the user.v

, A further aim is to provide a hood and adapter assembly which is relatively easy and inexpensive to fabricate and may be provided at low cost and which is compact and convenient to store away when not in use.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out more in detail hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereafter set forth and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the hood and adapter assembly connected to a hair dryer,,the head of a user being shown in phantom;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective View of the adapter with a portion of the end broken away to expose the interior of the structure; I e

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal section through the hood showingthe distributing channels as inflated during use;

FIG. 4 is an end view of the adapter taken from the inlet end thereof;

FIG. 5 is a viewto a reduced scale of the opposite end of the adapter with the control in open position; and FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 with the control in half-closed position.

Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a specific embodiment of the present invention in association with a commercially available type of stand-supported hair dryer designated generally as 2. The assembly is comprised generally of anadapter of coupling 6 engageable on the dryer 2, the hood 8 which fits over the head of the user (shown in phantom and denoted by reference numeral 4.), and a flexible tube or conduit which extends between the hood 8 and the adapter 6.

The adapter 6 which may be quickly and easily attached to or detached from the 'dryer is comprised of a generally tubular body 7 having a flared or cone-shaped inlet 9 conforming to the contour of the outlet end of the dryer 2, and is engaged thereon by telescoping it over the discharge end of the dryer and securing it thereto by a pair of elastic straps 12 which have hooks 16 (only one of which is shown) at their outer ends for engagement in the peripheral air intakes 18 of the dryer 2, or on any other suitable edge portion. In the specific embodiment, the adapter is provided with bosses 14 which are internally grooved as indicated at 15 to accommodate the channel members or ribs 17 extending along opposite sides of the dryer and the bosses 14 are slotted at 19 for attachment of the straps 12. The adapter is preferably formed of molded lightweight and rigid plastic material.

As best shown in FIGS. 2 and 4-6, the control for regulating the amount and velocity of hot air going to the hood 8 includes a fixed pair of diametrically opposed and spaced arcuate bafiles or vanes 20 extending inwardly from the inner Wall of the body 7 and preferably formed integrally therewith. Immediately forwardly of the vanes 20 are a similar pair of arcuate baffles or vanes 22 which are adjustable. The vanes 22 extend inwardly through peripheral slots 26 and are carried by a ring 24 covering the slots 26 and rotatably mounted on the body 7. The vanes 22 are preferably formed integrally with the ring 24. The vanes 20 and 22 each extend circumferentially slightly more than one-fourth the inner circumference of the body 7. The length of the slots 26.is such that the vanes 22 may be moved from a position in registry with the vanes 20 as shown in FIG. 5 which is the most open position to a position in which the vanes 22 cover the spaces between the vanes 20 as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 4 to form a substantially continuous circular bafiie which is the most closed position. It will be understood, of course, that the vanes 22 may be positioned at any intermediate point between open and closed positions such as, for example, the mid position shown in FIG. 6.

Forwardly or downstream of the vanes 20 and 22 are a pair of slots 28 formed in the wall of the tubular body 7 to provide vents to the exterior thereof. The'slots 28 have a length of approximately one-fourth the circumference of the body 7 and they are offset relative to the vanes 20 so that approximately half of each vane 20 extends in overlapping relationship with respect to the adjacent half of one of the slots 28.

The adapter and control means just described functions to control or vary the back pressure against which the hair dryer 2 must operate and thereby controls the temperature of the air reaching the head of the user through the hood 8. The conventional hair dryer is designed to produce a relatively large quantity of heated air at a relatively slow velocity, preferably using a propeller type fan. It has been found that when a conventional hood assembly is attached to a hair dryer cf this type, the resulting increase in back pressure is sufficient to reduce the flow of air to an extent that the temperature is increased beyond the comfort range of the user inasmuch as the heat output of the heating element of the dryer is a constant. I have dis'coverd that by providing the vents 28, suflicient air can be bled off to reduce the back pressure and thus reduce the temperature to within the comfort range of the user and at the same time a sufl'icient remaining quantity of air is still provided for efiicient operation of the hood 8. The vanes 20 and 22 also control the back pressure and, being adjustable, provide the user with a desired range of temperature control.

For example, when the ring 24 is rotated to move the vanes 20 and 22 into registry the back pressure is reduced and hence a greater quantity of air at lower temperature will be supplied to the hood 8 by the dryer 2 and when the vanes 20 and 22 are moved out of registry the orifice is restricted thereby increasing the back pressure and increasing the air temperature. As indicated in FIG. 2, suit- Patented Jan. 15, 1963.

able indicia may be provided on the ring 24 to indicate the setting of the vanes in terms of the temperature effect sensed by the user.

The outer end of the adapter 6 is provided with a pair of peripheral flanges 30, 32 defining a groove therebetween to facilitate connection of the tube or conduit thereto. The end of the tube or conduit 10 is preferably of larger diameter than the adapter and is formed with an elastic band 34 at its end so as to constrict and secure it in the groove between the flanges 30, 32. The tube or conduit 10 which conveniently may be several feet in length is secured at its opposite end to the hood or bonnet 8 and is sealed about the periphery of the rear opening 36. Both the hood and conduit are preferably of a thin flexible and relatively impermeable synthetic fabric such as polyvinyl plastic providing a lightweight assembly which will not be uncomfortable to the user and which will also permit maximum freedom of movement. The tube or conduit 10 is preferably of relatively large diameter of the order of three or four inches. One of the advantages of using a tube of relatively large diameter is that complete closure of the tube even when kinked is extremely unlikely, but in any event, even though complete blockage should occur, the presence of the vent slots 28 in the adapter 6 will effectively avoid complete shutoff of air flow through the dryer which otherwise might cause a dangerous situation resulting in burn-out of the fuse link.

Turning now to the hood assembly, it will be noted that a strip 40 of flexible material has been secured along its upper and lower edges to the rear interior portion of the hood 8 to form a baflle extending across the opening 36 and providing a pair of ducts terminating in the two ports 42 at opposite sides of the hood. The lower portion of the hood 8 adjacent the elastic band 46 is perforated with a number of small openings 48, the openings 48 preferably have a total cross sectional area which is less than the cross sectional area of the tube 10 and preferably as little as approximately one-third of this area so as to form a. restriction causing inflation or ballooning of the hood on the head of the wearer. As a result of the construction just described, the heated air entering the hood is diverted by the battle and two ducts carry the air forwardly over the users head before releasing it to the inside of the hood. Practical tests have shown that this eliminates any hot spots which would otherwise be uncomfortable to the user and the air is allowed to exhaust through the many small holes around the lower edge of the hood again without any discomfort to the user.

It thus will be seen that there has been provided in accordance with the invention a hood and adapter assembly which provides effective but comfortable discharge of air from a hair dryer into close and intimate contact with the hair and scalp of the user, which does not create an uncomfortable weight or drag upon the head of the user, and which provides a convenient control of the amount and velocity of the air furnished to the hood to suit the desires of the user.

Inasmuch as the assembly may be subject to variation and modification within the skill of the art without departing from the invention, all such variations and modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. An assembly for use with a hair dryer comprising an adapter having means for attachment onto the discharge end of an associated hair dryer, said adapter providing a through passageway for the air discharged from an associated dryer and being apertured in a side wall thereof to vent a portion of the air, adjustable vane means disposed upstream. of the apertured side wall for variably constricting the air passage through said body and thereby varying the velocity of air passing therethrough and the amount of air bleeding out through the apertured side wall, a hood adapted to fit over the head of the user, and a flexible tube extending between the hood and the adapter for delivery of air to the hood.

2. An assembly for use with a hair dryer comprising an adapter having a tubular body, means for mounting the adapter on the discharge end of an associated hair dryer, a first pair of spaced, arcuate vanes fixed to the body and extending into the path of air passing through the body, a second pair of spaced arcuate vanes parallel to the first pair of vanes and adjustably mounted on said body for movement into and out of registry with the first pair of vanes to provide a variable air passage through said body, apertures in said body disposed between the outlet end of the adapter and the vanes for bleeding off a portion of the air, a hood adapted to fit over the head of the user, and a flexible tube extending from said hood and connected to the adapter for delivery of air therefrom.

3. An assembly for use with a hair dryer comprising an adapter having a conical inlet portion adapted to be fitted over and secured to the discharge end of an associated haid dryer and a body portion having a through passageway provided with side vents, means on the adapter intermediate the inlet portion and the side vents for varying the effective opening of said passageway, a

' hood formed of light, flexible sheet material adapted to fit over the head of a user, and a flexible tube extending between the adapter and hood.

4. In an assembly for use with a hair dryer, a hood, a flexible tube connected at one end to the hood, and an adapter connected to the other end of the tube, said adapter comprising a tubular body having means for attachment onto the discharge end of an associated hair dryer and having an air passageway extending therethrough, a pair of fixed arcuate vanes in the body extending transversely of the air passageway, an adjusting ring rotatably mounted on the body and having a pair of arcuate vanes fixed thereto and extending into the body through apertures parallel to the fixed arcuate vanes for movement circumferentially to variably constrict the air passageway through said body, and slots in the body disposed between the vanes and the outlet end of the adapter for bleeding off a portion of the air from said air passageway.

5. In an assembly for use with a hair dryer, a hood formed of light, flexible sheet material, a flexible tube connected at one end to the hood, and an adapter connected to the other end of the tube, said adapter having a tubular body portion providing an air passageway therethrough and a flared nose portion adapted to be fitted over the discharge end of an associated dryer, elastic strap means for retaining the adapter on a dryer, said body portion being apertured in the side wall thereof, adjustable vane means in the body portion between the apertured portion and the nose portion for variably constricting the air passageway through said body portion, and means operable from the exterior of the body portion for varying the position of the vane means to variably constrict the air passageway, said vane means and apertured body portion providing for variation of the volume and temperatur of the air passing therethrough. A

6. An assembly for use with a hair dryer comprising an adapter having a tubular body, means for mounting said body on the discharge end of an associated hair dryer, a pair of spaced, fixed arcuate vanes extending into the path of air passing through said body, a pair of spaced arcuate vanes mounted on said body to cooperate with the fixed vanes and rotatable between a position in substantial alignment with the fixed vanes and a position in substantial alignment with the spaces between the fixed vanes to provide a constricted air passage through said body, means for adjusting the position of the movable vanes, and a pair of spaced elongated slot apertures in the body downstream of said vanes and adjacent thereto, said slot apertures being circumferentially offset with respect to the spaces between the fixed vanes, the volume of air bleeding oil through the apertures being regulatable by the position of the oscillatable shutter blades, a hood adapted to fit over the head of a user provided with means for distributing heated air over the head of a user, and a flexible conduit extending from said hood and engageable with the outlet end of said adapter for delivery of air therefrom.

7. An assembly for use with a hair dryer comprising an adapter engageable on the discharge end of an associated hair dryer and provided with adjustable vanes for con stricting the air passage therethrough and venting aper tures in the adapter downstream of said adjustable vanes, a hood adapted to fit over the head of a user, and a flexible conduit extending from said hood and connected to the adapter for delivery of air therefrom, said hood having a pair of channels extending from said conduit and diverging forwardly along the upper side portions of said hood for distribution of air therein, and a plurality of spaced perforations about the base portion of said hood for venting of air therefrom.

8. An assembly for use with a hair dryer comprising an adapter having an inlet portion adapted to be seated on the discharge end of an associated hair dryer and a body portion providing an air passageway therethrough, said body portion having adjustable means for constricting said air passageway therethrough and having side vents between the adjustable means and the outlet end of the adapter to bleed off air therethrough, means for attaching the adapter to the dryer, a hood formed of light flexible sheet material adapted to fit over the head of the user, a flexible tube extending between the adapter and a rear opening said hood, and a bafile of flexible sheet material attached to the interior of the hood extending across the opening and forming passageways extending forwardly along opposite sides of the interior of the hood, said hood having a plurality of small apertures adjacent its lower edge forming air vents having a total cross sectional area less than the cross sectional area of the flexible tube.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,765,379 McGinnis June 24, 1930 1,765,389 McGiunis June 24, 1930 2,003,610 Santurello June 4, 1935 2,474,427 Kending June 28, 1949 2,569,600 Dugan Oct. 2, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 157,822 Australia July 26, 1954 

1. AN ASSEMBLY FOR USE WITH A HAIR DRYER COMPRISING AN ADAPTER HAVING MEANS FOR ATTACHMENT ONTO THE DISCHARGE END OF AN ASSOCIATED HAIR DRYER, SAID ADAPTER PROVIDING A THROUGH PASSAGEWAY FOR THE AIR DISCHARGED FROM AN ASSOCIATED DRYER AND BEING APERTURED IN A SIDE WALL THEREOF TO VENT A PORTION OF THE AIR, ADJUSTABLE VANE MEANS DISPOSED UPSTREAM OF THE APERTURED SIDE WALL FOR VARIABLY CONSTRICTING THE AIR PASSAGE THROUGH SAID BODY AND THEREBY VARYING THE VELOCITY OF AIR PASSING THERETHROUGH AND THE AMOUNT OF AIR BLEEDING OUT THROUGH THE APERTURED SIDE WALL, A HOOD ADAPTED TO FIT OVER THE HEAD OF THE USER, AND A FLEXIBLE TUBE EXTENDING BETWEEN THE HOOD AND THE ADAPTER FOR DELIVERY OF AIR TO THE HOOD. 